The Health of the Maori Language in 2006 - Te Puni Kokiri

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The results indicate that since 2001:
• there has been an increase of 9 percentage points in the number of Mäori adults who can
speak Mäori to some extent;
• there has been an increase of 8 percentage points in the number of Mäori adults who can
understand spoken Mäori to some extent;
• there has been an increase of 9 percentage points in the number of Mäori adults who can read
Mäori to some extent; and
• there has been an increase of 11 percentage points in the number of Mäori adults who can
write Mäori to some extent.
There have also been significant shifts in the distribution of proficiency levels amongst age groups
(see Figure 5). It is notable that the number of people who can speak Mäori well or very well more
than doubled in the 15-24 and 25-34 year age groups.
FIGURE 5: CHANGES IN SPEAKING PROFICIENCY FOR MÄORI ADULTS WHO
SPEAK WELL OR VERY WELL
30
25
Percentage (%)
20
15
10
2001
2006
5
0
15-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55+ years
Age grouping
Source: HML 2001 Survey, HML 2006 Survey.
Changes in language skill proficiency are most likely the result of participation in activities that
support language acquisition, for example, in formal educational settings or community-based
education settings, alongside informal learning in the home.
Language Acquisition
The HML 2006 Survey asked respondents to indicate how they had learnt to speak Mäori. A
variety of responses were received, including in the home, through family and friends, in the
workplace, through formal education and through community-based education. The breadth of